Wolfowitz to meet with panel probing his handling case

WASHINGTON – World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz will get an opportunity today to address a panel that is probing whether he properly handled a promotion and pay package for his girlfriend.

He hopes to make his case and answer questions regarding the matter, which has prompted calls for his resignation by bank staff, the European Parliament, aid groups and some Democratic politicians. “While I’m disappointed that the board did not give us a few extra days as requested, I am pleased that they will hear from Mr Wolfowitz on Monday and that they agreed that I can attend,” Wolfowitz attorney Robert Bennett said Thursday.At issue is whether Wolfowitz violated bank rules in his handling of the 2005 promotion of bank employee Shaha Riza to a high-paying State Department job.She already worked at the bank when Wolfowitz took the helm in the summer of 2005.She was assigned duties outside the bank to avoid a conflict of interest, although she remained on the bank’s payroll.The terms and conditions of the package, however, had not been “commented on, reviewed or approved” by the World Bank’s ethics committee, its chairman or the bank’s board, according to the bank’s executive directors.The special bank panel has been investigating the matter.The World Bank’s 24-member board will ultimately decide what action to take, if any.Wolfowitz has said he erred and has apologised.He has said he doesn’t intend to resign.Also Thursday, Switzerland’s Economic Minister, Doris Leuthard, urged Wolfowitz to reconsider his battle to stay on as chief of the development bank, which focuses on fighting global poverty.”We told Mr Wolfowitz he should reflect whether he really is still the right person to have as president of this organisation, (for) the credibility of the institution,” Leuthard said at a conference in Geneva.She stopped short, however, of urging Wolfowitz to resign.Switzerland has a seat on the World Bank board.The US, the bank’s largest shareholder, has expressed confidence in Wolfowitz.Meanwhile, a group of World Bank staff involved in governance and anti-corruption expressed concern about the impact of the “current leadership crisis on the bank’s credibility” and urged the board to resolve the matter quickly.Wolfowitz, who had requested more time to make his case, believed bank authorities had treated him “shabbily” and “unfairly,” according to people familiar with a letter he sent to bank officials Wednesday.Nampa-AP”While I’m disappointed that the board did not give us a few extra days as requested, I am pleased that they will hear from Mr Wolfowitz on Monday and that they agreed that I can attend,” Wolfowitz attorney Robert Bennett said Thursday.At issue is whether Wolfowitz violated bank rules in his handling of the 2005 promotion of bank employee Shaha Riza to a high-paying State Department job.She already worked at the bank when Wolfowitz took the helm in the summer of 2005.She was assigned duties outside the bank to avoid a conflict of interest, although she remained on the bank’s payroll.The terms and conditions of the package, however, had not been “commented on, reviewed or approved” by the World Bank’s ethics committee, its chairman or the bank’s board, according to the bank’s executive directors.The special bank panel has been investigating the matter.The World Bank’s 24-member board will ultimately decide what action to take, if any.Wolfowitz has said he erred and has apologised.He has said he doesn’t intend to resign.Also Thursday, Switzerland’s Economic Minister, Doris Leuthard, urged Wolfowitz to reconsider his battle to stay on as chief of the development bank, which focuses on fighting global poverty.”We told Mr Wolfowitz he should reflect whether he really is still the right person to have as president of this organisation, (for) the credibility of the institution,” Leuthard said at a conference in Geneva.She stopped short, however, of urging Wolfowitz to resign.Switzerland has a seat on the World Bank board.The US, the bank’s largest shareholder, has expressed confidence in Wolfowitz.Meanwhile, a group of World Bank staff involved in governance and anti-corruption expressed concern about the impact of the “current leadership crisis on the bank’s credibility” and urged the board to resolve the matter quickly.Wolfowitz, who had requested more time to make his case, believed bank authorities had treated him “shabbily” and “unfairly,” according to people familiar with a letter he sent to bank officials Wednesday.Nampa-AP